Thank you for your article which is a wonderful reminder that wherever a reader is and whatever is happening to that person, that reader can choose to be anywhere he wants to be and at any time. Imagine our extraordinarily good fortune!
Keep 'em coming, John. Because of you, I just completed the 22-vol. Dan Lenson series by David Poyer. Now you've given this retired historian another series. Thanks! So many books, and so little time. I need to enjoy the process more...not just the accomplishment of checking a book or series off my list.
Great. I lost my (longtime) contact info in a digital disaster last fall, but I'm still at the same old mailing address. Send me a note, the old way, and we can reconnect!
Thoroughly enjoy your columns. Of course you've disclosed your reverence for Ross before. I share it. In my rereading the trove every few years, I always start with the four predecessors, beginning with The Dark Tunnel. Still curious why you haven't referenced John D in a column, whose work I also admire even if he churlishly fought over the right to the MacDonald name at the begining of the road. His stack of dozens of battered paperbacks with post it notes is in my library, starting with Brass Cupcake. Both men had a profound influence on my own writing.
Always glad to encounter a fellow admirer of Ross Macdonald. I read perhaps as many as five or six Travis McGee novels back in the day, and wasn't sorry to have done so, but didn't read more. So it goes!
For what it's worth, in my view McGee pales in comparison to Archer. It was J.D.'s pulp novels that continue to live and inspire. The old Gold medal series.
Having a sense of some of the authors who have given you pleasure, I believe you might make some new friends to savor. Of J. D.'s 40+ pulps, I'd recommend Murder in the Wind, Area of Suspicion, The Drowner, A Bullet for Cinderella, and Dead Low Tide as possible starting points. As with Ross Mac, a number of his early ones reflect the influence of his service in the Pacific in WWII (How many navy officers who served in the Pacific were characters in the Archer series?) Anyway I think you're in for a treat. Hope so.
Bob Mrazek here. This morning's Shelf Awareness provides a look at the progress of our Compass Rose Publishing venture in support of indie bookstore. It also describes our first three titles. The first happens to be mine. (https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=4844). As a descendant (aspiring) of Dorothy B., Ross M, and John D., my hope is that it would give you some reading pleasure. No obligations. I'd love to send you an ARC if you'd like to take a look. If so, please send me a good address. Best, Bob
John, if you were to "wikipedia" me I hope you might find me a worthy correspondent to correspond directly instead of in a public comment section. My email address is bobdog1945@gmail.com if this is a possibility.
Thank you for your article which is a wonderful reminder that wherever a reader is and whatever is happening to that person, that reader can choose to be anywhere he wants to be and at any time. Imagine our extraordinarily good fortune!
Thanks for your kind words!
Keep 'em coming, John. Because of you, I just completed the 22-vol. Dan Lenson series by David Poyer. Now you've given this retired historian another series. Thanks! So many books, and so little time. I need to enjoy the process more...not just the accomplishment of checking a book or series off my list.
Don, it is SO GOOD to hear from you. I'd love to be back in touch.
Let's make it happen!
Great. I lost my (longtime) contact info in a digital disaster last fall, but I'm still at the same old mailing address. Send me a note, the old way, and we can reconnect!
Will do.
Thoroughly enjoy your columns. Of course you've disclosed your reverence for Ross before. I share it. In my rereading the trove every few years, I always start with the four predecessors, beginning with The Dark Tunnel. Still curious why you haven't referenced John D in a column, whose work I also admire even if he churlishly fought over the right to the MacDonald name at the begining of the road. His stack of dozens of battered paperbacks with post it notes is in my library, starting with Brass Cupcake. Both men had a profound influence on my own writing.
Always glad to encounter a fellow admirer of Ross Macdonald. I read perhaps as many as five or six Travis McGee novels back in the day, and wasn't sorry to have done so, but didn't read more. So it goes!
For what it's worth, in my view McGee pales in comparison to Archer. It was J.D.'s pulp novels that continue to live and inspire. The old Gold medal series.
i don't think I've read any of those. What are a couple of your favorites?
Having a sense of some of the authors who have given you pleasure, I believe you might make some new friends to savor. Of J. D.'s 40+ pulps, I'd recommend Murder in the Wind, Area of Suspicion, The Drowner, A Bullet for Cinderella, and Dead Low Tide as possible starting points. As with Ross Mac, a number of his early ones reflect the influence of his service in the Pacific in WWII (How many navy officers who served in the Pacific were characters in the Archer series?) Anyway I think you're in for a treat. Hope so.
Thanks much! And I agree entirely that the influence of his naval service (and of "wartime") is deeper in the Archer series than is generally noted.
John,
Bob Mrazek here. This morning's Shelf Awareness provides a look at the progress of our Compass Rose Publishing venture in support of indie bookstore. It also describes our first three titles. The first happens to be mine. (https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=4844). As a descendant (aspiring) of Dorothy B., Ross M, and John D., my hope is that it would give you some reading pleasure. No obligations. I'd love to send you an ARC if you'd like to take a look. If so, please send me a good address. Best, Bob
John, if you were to "wikipedia" me I hope you might find me a worthy correspondent to correspond directly instead of in a public comment section. My email address is bobdog1945@gmail.com if this is a possibility.